St. Clare Friary Yonkers, NY

Transcription

1 St. Clare Friary Yonkers, NY An introduction to the Province s senior fraternity...

2 About the Capuchin Franciscans In the United States, the Capuchin Franciscans are organized into seven regions or provinces. Worldwide there are more than 12,000 Capuchins, making us the fourth largest men s religious order in the world. Capuchin Franciscans are well known for simplicity of life, warmth, deep prayer and dedication to the corporal works of mercy. Principal Province Ministries Mission Ministry: Serving our brothers and sisters in faith in the environment where most people come to experience church. Besides the local parish churches in New York and New England, friars live and serve in Central America, Guam, and Japan. St. Francis desired that anyone who comes to our houses should be received kindly; we, therefore, should welcome all with warm affection, especially the unfortunate and those suffering from hardships, and help them in their needs. O.F.M. Cap. Rule and Constitutions, #83:2 Historical Highlights St. Francis of Assisi founds his Order of priests and brothers in Capuchin Franciscans are a reform movement founded in Our name originates from our long pointed capuche, Italian for hood. Over 90 Capuchins have been declared Saint and Blessed throughout our history. Chaplaincy Ministry: Friars serving those who find themselves in hospitals, jails, or drug programs. Some of these brothers also serve in soup kitchens throughout the Province, and still others teach or serve as youth ministers on college campuses. Preaching Ministry: Friars serving the wider church through retreats and missions carried out in different parishes and retreat centers. Youth & Family Ministries: Recognized as a national leader in youth and family ministry, Capuchin Youth & Family Ministries (CYFM) works in the spirit of St. Francis to rebuild the Catholic Church by reaching out to young people and their families through retreats, parish ministries and service to the poor. The CYFM community nurtures faith, develops leaders, takes action through service to those in need, and magnifies God s love in the world. Where we Are St. Clare Friary-- an introduction St. Clare Friary is located on Shonnard Place in Yonkers, adjoining Sacred Heart Parish. It was founded in 1988 to assist our senior friars in continuing to live the fullness of life... to discover the meaning of later years... not in fear but in faith. 1 Since then, it has grown from a few rooms over the Sacred Heart High School to a fully-equipped independent, assisted, and personal care fraternity that boasts the same level of excellence as a certified nursing home. Furthermore, these facilities are incorporated seamlessly into a true home for friars, providing the familiar feeling of community that is central to the Franciscan way of life. The friary is the namesake of St. Clare of Assisi, who was a great friend of St. Francis, and who cared for him as his health declined until his death in A.D Inspired by Clare s selfless devotion to Francis wellbeing, the companions who operate St. Clare center their ministry around the ideals of the Capuchins and in a way that reflects that caring relationship between those who have selflessly given their lives to their vocations, and those who serve them and assist them in continuing to live out a communal life of holiness as they are best able. 1 The St. Clare Friary Mission Statement 2 St. Clare: A Senior Friary St. Clare: A Senior Friary 3

3 Friar Biography: Father Andrew Drew Frs. John, Cyprian, and Knute share a midday meal with their community. How Has the Program Grown? Ordained in 1961, Fr. Andrew (a veteran of the Korean War) spent his first 15 years as a Capuchin friar in Japan. While oversees, he taught English in a school and served as a parish priest. After returning to the U.S. and spending many more years in the parish setting, he eventually came to St. Clare where he has been a part of the senior community for 3 years. He has quickly come to admire his new home. Fr. Andrew mentions that he enjoys the familiar sense of community mixed with a good deal of time and freedom for personal reflection. He spends many afternoons and evenings in prayer now, and finds his new life a thoroughly enjoyable and holy one. Br. Matt Janeczko (L) shares a laugh with Fr. Zachary Grant during a visit to St. Clare Friary. Inset: Fr. Zachary with his parents after saying his first mass. Eligibility: How is a Friar Admitted? Since the establishment of St. Clare Friary in 1988, it has gone from a tiny, independent-care residence above the Sacred Heart School in Yonkers to the thriving community of permanent and temporary Capuchin residents now living in the spacious and historical friary next door to Sacred Heart Parish. St. Clare now employs several personal-care professionals in addition to its Capuchin community directors, and on average, cares for more than a dozen brothers. It has come to welcome a variety of cases: friars who are inhibited from independently and actively ministering due to age or infirmity, as well as injured or ill ones who need a place to recuperate before going back to their mission. St. Clare currently has the luxury of extra bedrooms, The Capuchin community directors who welcome new residents to St. Clare take great care to make sure that the individual friar, as well as any family and medical staff involved, is included in the admission process. First, if possible, the friar will visit St. Clare Friary and meet with appropriate staff, states the Provincial Handbook. Next, an Below: Frs. Andrew, Gordon, John, La Salle, and Charles before an evening meal. Each of them used to serve as foreign missionaries in Japan, Guam, or Nicaragua. and is ready to house any friar in the Province of St. Mary who may suddenly need care. It has come a long way since its inception 24 years ago, and with continued generous support, the friary can continue to expand its novel care program for senior friars while maintaining an engaging, familiar, community-oriented atmosphere. Above: Fr. Andrew (center) and other senior friars attend an ordination mass at Sacred Heart Parish, next door to St. Clare. Inset: In Japan, Fr. Andrew greets parishioners before a mass. interdisciplinary assessment will then be conducted, and if all parties agree the senior friar is ready for the transition, his medical records are transferred to the friary staff to ensure 13 Number of senior friars in residence at St. Clare as of The number fluctuates throughout the year, as temporary, rehabilitative hospice is also offered to any ill or injured friars in the Province. consistent, up-to-date care for the friar once he is settled in. Friars are typically introduced to the idea of living at St. Clare when age, injury, infirmity, or distress impede their ability to carry out active, daily ministry in their community. A spirit of fraternal understanding and sincere esteem should surround those united in community so that the bond of charity will be preserved By reason of their common vocation all friars are equal. O.F.M. Cap. Rule and Constitutions, #74:4-5 Frs. Senan (L) and Darius celebrate mass with the senior friar community. 4 St. Clare: A Senior Friary St. Clare: A Senior Friary 5

4 Do Friars follow any Daily routines? Each friar is afforded his own bedroom and bathroom, to encourage and provide for a well-earned, [independent] quality of life. Is the friary a retirement home? Far from it! Once a Franciscan, always a Franciscan, could be the motto at St. Clare. The setting affords our most valued brothers an environment which engenders community prayer and reflection, mutual support, and continued opportunities for fraternal and ministerial involvement. (Look at the next few pages for exactly what all that means!) Friar caregivers-- along with their lay partners-- offer hands-on ministry in monitoring health concerns; supporting social interactions; and encouraging a balanced life-style that enhances a well-earned quality of life. The fraternity reaches out to the greater province in offering hospitality to friars with special health concerns and/or in recuperation. The mission statement of St. Clare Friary affirms that it is created to assist our senior friars in continuing to live the fullness of life... in an atmosphere of support and assistance. The lifestyle and activities provided for friars reflect this ideal in a manner that conforms to the overall Franciscan way of life. Friars are given opportunities to celebrate the mass each morning, to pray together twice a day (following the schedule of the Divine Office, a set of prayers that friars across the Province pray daily), and also gather to share lunch and dinner together. In addition, there is a modest gym, garden courtyard, and reading room. The Chapel at St. Clare Many days I will take a bus out in the morning or evening, and walk along the aqueduct while I pray. -Br. James Wieland Let them remember that they are called, in accordance with their vocation, to a willing acceptance of sickness and infirmity in order to be made more fully conformable One of the directors stresses that these are opportunities to the suffering Christ... with a heart to follow routines that friars once observed when actively centered on God.... ministering. They are free to do whatever they want, he O.F.M. Cap. Rule and Constitutions, #87:3 points out during a dinner with the community. He also adds, we give them the options, say, to minister by celebrating mass or providing other residents with rides or company... But no matter what, they all minister by looking after one another. Some residents take part in all the activities, led by fellow Capuchin companions, while some prefer prayerful solitude. However, regardless of habit, every one of the senior The St. Clare reading room, which looks out on the garden area, offers hundreds of books to choose from. 6 brothers say they feel God s love pervading St. Clare in both their individual and fraternal lifestyles. St. Clare: A Senior Friary St. Clare: A Senior Friary 7

5 The second-floor balcony from St. Clare offers a peaceful river view for friars. Friar Biography: Brother Carmine Funaro Integral to A Greater Brotherhood Br. Matthew Janeczko is a Capuchin in formation; he is studying at Boston College s School of Theology and Ministry, and during the summer works in various Provincial ministries, whether that be a hospital, a religious education program, or a parish. Br. Matt has been to St. Clare a number of times, whether for a Provincial celebration at Sacred Heart Parish, or just to visit a senior friar when his travels take him through New York. He remarks that far from being secluded, he knows other friars in the Province make the same effort to visit those at St. Clare friary often and enthusiastically. Simply put, They re such friars!... they get to continue to live the Capuchin life, and I constantly seek them out for advice. They have a great presence of humility. Furthermore, Br. Matt comments on the beauty of the internal community these senior friars enjoy: It s special that men who have lived as Capuchins, dedicated to the Franciscan way of life and to the Church, can meet the Lord still as Capuchins... united in brotherhood. Another friar, Br. Michael Ramos, observes, Every brother should have to spend some time in formation here... there is a great amount of mutual learning. Both Matt and Michael admire how often friends, family, and Capuchins from all over the Province visit St. Clare. They agree that it is a privilege to be near such holy men, and that all the senior friars live out the Capuchin example in Every friar should spend some time in formation here... there is a great amount of mutual learning. Br. Michael Ramos Each evening, residents share their days with one another over prayer, dinner, and recreation in the sitting room. Friars are laid to rest in a beautiful cemetery next door to St. Clare s. 100 Age of our wisest friar in the Province, Fr. Walter O Brien. On March 3, 2013, he was called home by God to his eternal rest. Fr. Walter (seated) with Fr. Michael Connolly, one of the Capuchin caregivers at St. Clare. Brother Carmine grew up in Brooklyn and, after doing manual labor work for several years after high school, made his First Profession to the Order in Always being one for working with his hands, Br. Carmine was drawn to the opportunity to Br. Carmine serve the Province through simple support work. He ministered in a training house for novices for a few years, thriving in ministries like cooking and doing laundry or odd jobs; after that he moved on to do similar work at parishes in New Paltz, NY, Portland, ME, and Interlaken, NY. While at St. Joseph in New Paltz, he took continuing education classes at SUNY to earn his equivalency high school diploma. He felt empowered by completing his education, but still remarks that the Order holds dear the idea that all in its fraternity are equal, regardless of education. Now at St. Clare, he still exhibits his characteristic humility through his support work in the office. He spends his free time painting and expanding his vocabulary, in an attempt to continue educating himself. Br. Carmine reflects on his time at St. Clare with the following: We all have to take charge of who we are in our lives... but ultimately we are here because we identified that joining this community is what God wanted us to do at this point in our lives... He led us here. An oil painting by Br. Carmine a way that is inspiring to a fellow brother s own vocation. 8 St. Clare: A Senior Friary St. Clare: A Senior Friary 9

6 A Message from Fr. Francis Gasparik How is St. Clare Different from a Nursing Home? Just as St. Clare looked after St. Francis towards the end of his life, so do the caregivers at St. Clare Friary center themselves around the unique and beautiful mission of brothers committing themselves to serving one another. Leading and joining the senior friars in meals, mass, and prayer are four companions, or caregivers, who are Capuchins themselves. In 1988, Fr. Senan Taylor was appointed to be the Director of a senior fraternity endeavor; he has overseen its growth throughout 24 years and remains an intrepid, high-spirited caregiver even today. As much of a challenge as it was to pioneer such unheard-of territory, Fr. Senan was well-placed to manage the change that was asked of him in Positioned somewhere between his formation in the Pre-Vatican II Church and ordination to the Post-Vatican II, ecumenical Church, Fr. Senan had the perspective necessary to help our senior friars adjust to a new way of life that the Order had not previously embraced. Noting initial reluctance that some friars take with the transition to life at St. Clare, Fr. Senan points out, Once they are here, there is a change... they come to love and accept [their brothers in fraternity] here. Dina Ranaudo cooks lunches and dinners at St. Clare. Thanks to the foundation of a senior community, friars who spent decades in domestic or foreign missions (some of them in total seclusion) now are being given a chance to come back home and relive their past with brothers whom they entered the Capuchins with as many as 50 years ago. The companions at St. Clare assure friars a dignified quality of life that compliments the humility that is characteristic of the Capuchin Order. They employ a full-time care staff of attendants, physical therapists, cooks, and a Fr. Senan joins Fr. Walter nurse; they also bring in specialized for lunch in the kitchen. doctors for residents regular checkups and tests. Nevertheless, the mission of the fraternity is grounded on a simple by friars, for friars mentality. And while a friar may be admitted to a nursing home if he has needs beyond which St. Clare is equipped to deal with, it is rare that senior brothers do not continue living in community until they meet their eternal reward in heaven. Fr. Senan and the other caregivers at St. Clare specifically want to make sure that their brothers are not left to face their later years alone, and so make every effort to put themselves at the heart of the community. In our fraternities we should take care that diversity of age results in mutual enrichment and oneness of spirit. Charitable concern and gratitude should be shown to friars of advanced age. Younger friars should esteem them and willingly profit from their experience. Older friars should look favorably on healthy changes in our life and work. O.F.M. Cap. Rule and Constitutions, #75 We re Online! For More Information about St. Clare Friary, the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Mary, and ways that you can participate in or support the senior friars & their companions in their mission, go to: St. Clare Friary 110 Shonnard Place Yonkers, NY Thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with this special ministry of the Province, St. Clare s Fraternity. The worldwide Capuchin Order is continually blessed with those members who have laid the foundation of the Church for ministry and fraternity today. In the ever changing world of health care, having friars in the best possible physical, spiritual and medical environment allows us to live a Belief for Success which is Always surround yourself with people from whom you can learn. Our senior members continue to be our source of fraternal and spiritual wisdom. They advise, comfort and inspire the younger friars to live the fullness of Capuchin Franciscan Life. At the same time, they clearly preserve the contemplative dimension of our lives. The world is filled with movement, activities and measures of productivity. The fraternal and prayer life at St. Clare s offers to the world the inspiration of a spiritual, peaceful contemplative life. This later life vocation is absorbed with serving as an example to seniors in the community and a life in prayer. Prayer for the world - for justice, peace, employment, for the sick, suffering and the poor and weak. Prayer for the Church for the Holy Father, fervent priests and holy religious, vocations, the persecuted and the return of Catholics to the Faith. Prayer for you and your loved ones in gratitude for your faithful and generous support. We beg your continued prayerful and temporal support. We are grateful to you and the many volunteers and professionals who participate in creating a home, a community and a powerhouse of prayer: St. Clare Fraternity. Fr. Senan folds laundry for his brother friars Fr. Francis Gasparik, O.F.M. Cap Provincial Minister 10 St. Clare: A Senior Friary St. Clare: A Senior Friary 11

7 Brothers, let us begin, for until now we have done nothing. Francis of Assisi St. Clare Friary 110 Shonnard Place Yonkers, NY Capuchin.org Interviews, copywriting, design, and layout by Alex Angstrom. Alex is a junior at Binghamton University s School of Management. To see more of his work or to contact him, please go to or follow on Twitter.